Position Available: Graduate Student Researcher

Second year master’s student from Public Policy, Social Welfare, or Urban Planning needed to work as a Graduate Student Researcher in fall, winter and spring quarters to assist Dean Frank Gilliam on his spring 2011 course, “Strategic Communications, Social Justice and Public Policy."  In fall and winter, this student will help Dean Gilliam in the research and design of the course. In spring, the student will help prepare weekly lecture notes and powerpoint presentations for each class.

COURSE DESCRIPTION (DRAFT):
This course examines how strategic communications influences the relationship between public discourse on social justice issues and public policy preferences. Relying on research from the cognitive and social sciences, we analyze the nature of public communications and how it shapes policy preferences on a range of topics where social justice is a relevant concern. Issues include education, immigration, crime, health, child development, social welfare and economic development. Students will learn how advocates, policymakers, and elected officials develop public communications in support of preferred policy agendas. In addition, the course will cover commonly made mistakes by public and non-profit communicators. In all, the course is concerned with both the theory and practice of strategic communications as it affects the relationship between social justice and public policy.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• perform extensive research using libraries, Internet, and other research tools;
• read and evaluate various articles and books to determine inclusion in course syllabus;
• prepare research notes;
• proofreading and editing;
• assist in preparing powerpoint presentations for weekly class lecture;
• administrative support for class;
• meet regularly with dean’s project manager to review progress.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong Internet and library research skills;
• Special interest in and/or academic knowledge of social justice issues and/or communications;
• Strong ability to synthesize information plus excellent writing skills;
• Computer literacy particularly with Word, Excel, and Powerpoint;
• Detail oriented, disciplined work habits;
• Preferred, but not required: knowledge of STATA, SAS, SPSS, Excel, Access or other software to record and analyze data and to document the analysis.

HOURS: On average, 4-8 hours per week. Workload may be scheduled around classes and exams.

COMPENSATION: $16.74-18.56/hr per hour, or DOQ

APPLICATION: To apply, please email Waiyi Tse [5] with your resume and a paragraph describing your interest and qualifications.

DEADLINE: October 7, 2010 at 5:00 pm.